With an upswing in attendance and vendors generating onsite sales and leads, the 54th annual Vancouver International Boat Show came to a close on Sunday, January 24, 2016. Show officials reported positive feedback from exhibitors and vendors of all sizes, and BC’s boating industry is poised for a strong 2016 season.

Western Canada’s largest boat show recorded increased attendance numbers at both the indoor show at BC Place and the Floating Show at Granville Island. 30,340 people visited the two venues at the 2016 show, a 2% increase from the previous year.

“The 2016 show produced some quality customers. Overall activity was very strong in heavy gauge aluminum and also had a great selection of 1st time boaters looking at entry level aluminum. Overall business was up from last year. If the boat show is any indication of the upcoming year, then let the season begin!!!” Brendan Keys, General Manager , GA Checkpoint Yamaha

“It was a great show. New and old boaters had a great time. Some rain early on but weather was good for the most part. Serious buyers. Sales were good. Good crowds. Lots to see and do.” Mark Collett, Canadian Yachting Magazine

The Show attracted a wider audience this year, partly as a result of new and exciting features, including actor Ted Lange (Issac Washington from The Love Boat), who spent the Show meeting with fans, posing for photos and speaking with a variety of members of the local Vancouver media. In addition, Prop Formula1 racer Mike McLellan brought his incredible powerboat for display, while rower Brenda Robbins broke a world record for continuously rowing for 26 straight hours. The Dockside Grill cooking stage shone the spotlight on cooking in small spaces, while The Lower Deck bar brought guests together in the show’s central socializing hub.

Dates for the 55th Vancouver International Boat Show are scheduled for January 18 – 22, 2017 at BC Place and Granville Island.coming

Stephen and Fran Hill are our most prolific POTW contributors. So far we have received at least three dozen beauties. Here’s the first note we received:

Over the past two summers we completed the Down East Circle Route on our 37' Nordic Tug named "Tug'n". Here are a series of photos from the two summers. I hope a few might be of interest to your readers.

Jeanneau’s newest NC model is the NC 33, and it’s an exciting and innovative inboard cruiser ideally suited to young families or couples.

Nick Harvey, President of Jeanneau America wanted to emphasize that their new NC 33 features a hull design by Michael Peters. Peters’ hand has been on many of the company’s recent designs and strong performance and excellent sea-keeping are to be expected.

At an overall length of 34.5” and equipped with twin engines, the NC 33 has been designed to fit in between Jeanneau’s NC 9(30’11” with a single engine) and the NC 11 at 36’6” and with twin engines.

A thin breeze skittered across the Gulf of Maine, and a low cloud ceiling stamped-outany moonlight, making for a darknight aboard my dad’s J/44, Southern Cross. My wife and I were standing watch with nothing to look at, save a few distant lights. While my wife enjoys excellent vision, I suffer from severe red-green color blindness that makes it hard to determine if I’m looking at bow and stern lights, discreet vessels, or both. Given that in August of 2006 Automatic Identification System (AIS) wasn’t yet widespread amongst recreational craft, we spent the next few minutes trying to discern the nature of the scene before consulting the radar, getting on the VHF, and waking our captain.

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